<p>I'll go to bat for WSU since it's usually overlooked on this forum:
Atmospere: it's a big campus in a small town. Most students are happy to be there and love the school. Breeds the most loyal alumni on the west coast. Four seasons - wonderful golden fall, cold snowy winter, beautiful spring, short hot summer. Depending on your major the departments vary from good to excellent, and although there is emphasis on grad studies/research the school is committed to undergraduate education. (Will you have a science TA whose English could be better, yes. Will it be as many as at UW or a UC? no)</p>